Policy information
Offering Apprenticeships
If you are a provider and wish to offer Apprenticeships, you will need to register your details with the Skills Funding Agency through the Qualified Provider Framework.
Once you have been registered, you will be able to apply to become ‘pre-qualified’. If you are successful at this stage, you will then be invited to tender when the Skills Funding Agency runs its tendering rounds.
Find out more about the Qualified Provider Framework »
Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16 to 24 year olds (AGE 16 to 24)
The AGE 16 to 24 is aimed at helping eligible employers to offer young people employment through the Apprenticeship programme, by providing wage grants to assist them in recruiting their first apprentice.
The National Apprenticeship Service is committed to working closely with our strategic partners including AoC, AELP, colleges and training providers across the country to deliver our ambition for the AGE 16 to 24.
Find out more about AGE 16 to 24 »
Functional Skills within Apprenticeships
Functional Skills qualifications are due to replace Key Skills, as a mandatory component of all Apprenticeship frameworks. This requirement is stated in the Specification for Apprenticeship Standards in England (SASE) which sets out the minimum requirements to be included in a recognised English Apprenticeship framework.
On 14 July 2010, the Business, Innovation and Skills Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning agreed to extend dual running of Key Skills and Functional Skills in Apprenticeships until the end of March 2011 to allow time for employers and providers to finalise their models for delivering Functional Skills within Apprenticeship frameworks.
Find out more about the extension of Key Skills »
Apprenticeship Agreement
The requirement for an Apprenticeship Agreement between an employer and an apprentice, under the ASCL Act 2009 sections 32-36, came into force on the 6 April 2012. An Apprenticeship Agreement is required at the commencement of the Apprenticeship for all new apprentices who start on or after that date.
Find out more about Apprenticeship Agreement »
Certification
The majority of the Apprenticeship provisions of the Apprenticeship, Skills, Children and Learning (ASCL) Act are now in force.
We are have written to Providers via the Association of Learning Providers (ALP), Association of Colleges (AoC) and the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) update on the changes this will mean for the way Apprenticeship certificates are issued as stated in the regulations of the Act, and to let them know about the certification service that is currently being developed by the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils.
Find out more about Apprenticeship certification »
National Minimum Wage (NMW) for apprentices
The National Minimum Wage (NMW) for apprentices is currently £2.50 per hour (From 1 October 2011 this will be £2.60 per hour). Wage rates for roles within the Agricultural sector may differ from the minimum wage.
The apprentice NMW applies to all 16 to 18 year olds and to those aged 19 and over in the first year of their Apprenticeship.
Find out more about the NMW for apprentices »
Access to Apprenticeships
Access to Apprenticeships will provide help and support for young people aged 16-24 who need that little extra boost in moving into employment as an apprentice. It is recognised that there are young people who have all the ambition and passion demanded by an Apprenticeship but who need an opportunity to demonstrate to employers their commitment to work and study to the standards required. Access to Apprenticeships will give them this chance.
Find out more about Access to Apprenticeships »
Apprenticeship Delivery Models and Programme Led Apprenticeships
A number of policy changes within the skills system have significantly changed the operating environment for the delivery of Apprenticeships.
The focus of many of the changes is to increase the quality and relevance of Apprenticeships, promoting the features of a world class Apprenticeship system, and in particular how we expect an Apprenticeship to be delivered.
Find out more about the policy changes »
Diversity Pilots
The Government is committed to increasing the number of Apprenticeship opportunities for everyone, with participation increasing significantly in the last decade. Apprenticeships should be open and accessible to all, regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability or learning difficulty. A great deal of work has already been done to improve access to Apprenticeships.
However, there are still issues surrounding unequal participation and the success rates across different groups. In particular, black and minority ethnic apprentices and those with disabilities and/or learning difficulties are under-represented within Apprenticeships; there is also a considerable gender segregation across particular vocational sectors.
Find out more about the Diversity Pilots »
Last Updated: 22/05/2012